Monday, November 20, 2017

I Love This Time of Year!

Hello out there! It's a beautiful morning and it's going to be a great day! I'm a typing
and a singing with joyful praise! I think Jim was really glad that he had a job to go
and do today. He told me as he was leaving - you are getting delirious! You need to
take a nap! I just laughed - we went to Adoration this morning and we woke up about
4:00 a.m. Spending an hour at the Adoration Chapel is the best way to start your day,
and for us, our whole week! I prayed my little heart out! I prayed for everybody and
Jim always enjoys the quiet time we spend in prayer.
Now for the rest of the story..............At home - In our kitchen - 6:30 a.m.
I was singing some crazy old country songs in the kitchen while Jim was reading the
newspaper. He looked over the newspaper at me and shook his head. He knows how
I am and since this is Thanksgiving week and all our children and grandchildren are
going to be with us - I have a really long to do list! I start the morning out like the
Energizer Bunny and go, go, go and by the end of the day I am wiped out!
But when I started singing, "I like beer.....it makes me a jolly good fellow - I like beer..
it makes me feel mellow....." and I told Jim that I didn't know why that song popped
into my head and he said something like, "it is way too early for this" and I laughed
and sang some more!
I hope you all have a wonderful week! I hope that your home is full of laughter and
song! I pray that you have family surrounding you and that your pantry is stocked
full! If you are in need of help this time of year and really anytime at all - please
contact your parish or church - and if you aren't a member somewhere - that is
okay - you don't have to be a member to receive help - please reach out - let people
know what you need - we need to take of each other!
I am going to close with part of a post I wrote last year. God bless you all, near and
far, blessings to you, wherever you are!




Today is a new day and I give thanks to the  Lord!
Please pray for the homeless, the unborn, the children who are in foster homes, and
those who are waiting for someone to adopt them. Please pray for couples who are
praying to be blessed with a child of their own.  Please pray for couples who are on a
long waiting list trying to adopt a baby boy or a baby girl, a son or a daughter.
Hug your kids and hug your spouse. Call your mom and dad if you are still blessed
to have them. Call an aunt or uncle you haven't spoken to in a while. Reach out
to someone today! Little things mean so much! Write a note and put it in your
child's lunch box and if possible, go up to the school and eat with them, they grow
up so fast! Treat your spouse with respect and let them know that you love them!
Be a light that shines for all to see! Spread happiness and cheer to all you meet!
                                             God bless you all!

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Pumpkin Nut Muffins, A Road Trip, Books and Best Friends, Clouds, Comals, and Prayers!

Good morning out there! It's beginning to feel a lot like Thanksgiving!
1. Clean and organize pantry - done
2. Check expiration dates on spices, baking powder, baking soda, etc. - done
3. Cut coupons and write a grocery list - done (I've already been to the
store twice)!
4. Start baking early because Jim and I can't wait to taste my pumpkin nut muffins!
I made a batch of pumpkin nut muffins on Sunday afternoon. The aroma coming from
the oven was heavenly! Better than a candle - pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg!
They taste great too! They are so moist you don't even need to add any butter!
We took a gallon size Ziploc bag full of muffins to Mass with us (not inside the church -
we left them in the truck) to give to our son and his family! They have five children
and they were excited when we gave them the bag full of muffins after Mass.
Jim and I ate a couple of them and I decided to make another batch on Monday. Yes,
we still had some left but I knew that our daughter and her family would stop by on
Monday evening and I wanted to share with them also! I made another batch of
muffins and I made a big pot of homemade chicken and noodle (rotini pasta) soup!
Our son was working in the shop and I packaged up some more muffins for him to
take home and he grabbed a couple of warm ones that had I had just pulled out of
the oven! I called one of our neighbors who has three small children and I dashed over
to their home and left half a dozen for them! Our daughter and her family came over
and they ate muffins (this was their dessert - they had eaten at home) and then
I sent some more muffins home with them! Jim and I sat down and ate a big bowl
of chicken noodle soup! He looked at the plate where the muffins were and
exclaimed, "There's only four left!" I laughed and told him that we had eaten
plenty but reassured him that I would make more later on this week!


Guess what I did yesterday! I went on a road trip! I drove to Austin and had lunch
with one of my best friends! She and her husband own a flower shop in
San Antonio. The reason for my trip? I delivered a box of twenty of my books,
signed and ready for them to display and sell in their store -
Flowerama - 5404 Babcock Rd. San Antonio, TX 78240
I am really excited and hope that people in the San Antonio area will stop by and
pick up a copy and maybe some flowers too!
It was a beautiful day for a drive. I prayed and enjoyed some quiet time. The clouds
and colors of the sky with sun rays streaming through were magnificent!
Take a look at these pictures! I felt God's presence and thought I saw some angels
in the clouds!
I also delivered a gift to my (our) friend - Her hubby and my hubby have been best
friends since about ninth grade! Y'all know that Jim is a welder and he makes all
kinds of things. One of the things he has made for me and several other people is
a comal, like a flat, round griddle. You use it to heat up tortillas, and I make grilled
cheese sandwiches on mine plus a lot of other stuff. Jim cooks pancakes on it.
My comal stays on the back burner of my stove at all times! Jim made it for me
about twenty-six years ago! Anyway, Jim made one for her and I delivered it along
with the books!
The one in the picture is mine! The neat thing is that the handle doesn't heat up!
Well I better get busy since I was gone all day yesterday!
Have a great day! Hug your kids and hug your spouse!
Today is Thursday - The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary!


                                                          Blessings to you and yours!
                                                                         Bye for now, Sharla

Saturday, November 11, 2017

November is.............National Adoption Month!

Hello out there and good morning! I'm going to post summaries of things that have
happened over the past week and a half -


1. Wednesday, November 1, 2017 - I spoke about my adoption at the Pro-Life Ram's
meeting at Angelo State University. My friend, Candi went with me and we really
enjoyed visiting with these wonderful young adults. They are doing amazing things
and really trying to help single parents on campus! They have lots of energy and they
really know what they are talking about! Thank you, Pro-Life Rams for being a voice
for the voiceless and strong pro-life advocates!
They are selling t-shirts to make money for the scholarship they give out each year.
The front side of the t-shirt is the quote from Dr. Seuss, "A persons a person no matter
how small" and has a really cute picture on it.
This is what the back of the t-shirt looks like -


November is National Adoption Month!

If y'all have been reading my posts for very long - you have read my story. Here is
the press release from my book - Jim and I paid for the publication of my book to help
promote adoption as a loving life option.
Maybe someday we will sell enough books so that we can pay for adoption messages
on the big billboards! That's our goal - to try and share the message of adoption for
for the human babies! The following is the press release for my book!
Share your thoughts with me! If you have read my book - let me know what you think!
If you would like a book donated for a benefit auction or a church festival auction, etc.
please contact me - we donate a lot of books! adopted.blessed@suddenlink.net


Jim just called me from the tire store! I have to go and pick him up - he needs new tires!
Nooooooooooooooooo! Just kidding - that is his work truck and it goes through a lot!
I will have to share everything else later.
Have a great weekend!

                                                      Blessings to you and yours!
                                                                 Bye for now, Sharla

Today is Saturday - Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary!

Hello again! I actually made it back to my keyboard today! Jim and I subscribe to a
Catholic newspaper called, "National Catholic Register" and in the
October 29 - November 11, 2017 issue there is an article by Stacy A. Trasancos and
it is called, The Pain Unborn Children Feel, a really well written article with
a series of ultrasound images of an unborn baby at 20 weeks. I am going to share
the images with you and the last paragraph of her article.
Abortions are legal in Texas on the unborn baby up to 20 weeks. Abortions are legal in
some other states on the unborn baby up to 36 weeks. When I look at the images of
the ultrasound I see a baby - you'd have to be blind not to! Please be a voice for
the voiceless - write to your congressmen or congresswomen, send letters to your
newspaper, to your state representatives, let your voice be heard -
 NO MORE -
I WILL NOT BE SILENT -
I WILL SPEAK UP FOR THE WEAKEST AMONG US!

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Rain, Homemade Potato Soup, and Praying the Rosary

Hello out there - It is cold and rainy outside today! I ran all my errands this morning
and I am thankful to be back at home. I am going to make a big pot of homemade
potato soup tonight! Monday night was red beans and cornbread; Tuesday night was
a hearty beef stew and cornbread with homemade chocolate chip cookies with lots of
pecans and tonight's menu is yummy potato soup with grated cheese and biscuits!
No, this is not a diet week - more like a pack on the pounds and hibernate like a bear
week!
It is time for me to post copies of the rosary again! Our communities and our families
need prayers, lots of prayers!
I hope you all are warm and safe and loved and well fed wherever you are. The only way
I know to reach out to you is with my posts, my prayers, and my tears.
God bless you all wherever you are, near or far you are in my heart!




I feel like God is reminding us, calling us to pray the rosary together again. I invite all
of you to begin praying the family rosary together. Families all over the world need
prayer. We all need God in our lives. Jim and I are going to make praying the rosary
together on a daily basis a priority in our home. It only takes 20-25 minutes to pray the
rosary. If you don't think you can fit this into your schedule then try praying one decade,
that will only take you about 5 minutes. I know you can spare 5 minutes! I am going
to explain how to pray the rosary for those of you who may not know how. I will try
really hard to walk you through it step by step on a daily basis for the next week.
Are you ready? Let's get started!
I'm going to list all the steps that are in this pamphlet published by the Marian Press.
You can still pray the prayers of the rosary without actually having a rosary. Use
your fingers to keep count of the prayers.

The following are the prayers of the rosary -
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in
Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from
the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the
Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for
us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory Be To The Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope,
to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our
sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears; turn, then, most gracious
Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises
of Christ.

Now that you have the prayers of the rosary, the next step is teaching you how
to pray the rosary.
Since today is Wednesday, we will pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross and then say the "Apostles' Creed."
2. Say the "Our Father."
3. Say three Hail Marys'
4. Say the "Glory Be to the Father."
5. Announce the First Mystery -
The First Glorious Mystery is The Resurrection -
"Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised;
He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him." (Mark 16:6)
Then say the "Our Father"
6. Say (10) Hail Marys'
7. Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
8. Announce the Second Mystery -
The Second Glorious Mystery is The Ascension -
So then the Lord Jesus, after He spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and
took His seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys'
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
9. Announce the Third Mystery -
The Third Glorious Mystery is the Descent of the Holy Spirit -
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:4)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys'
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
10. Announce the Fourth Mystery -
The Fourth Glorious Mystery is The Assumption -
"You are the glory of Jerusalem!.......You are the great boast of our nation!.....
You have done good things for Israel, and God is pleased with them. May the
Almighty Lord bless you forever!" (Jud 15:9-10)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys'
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
11. Announce the Fifth Mystery -
The Fifth Glorious Mystery is The Coronation -
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon
under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Revelations 12:1)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys'
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
12. Say the "Hail, Holy Queen" after all five decades are completed.
13. Make the Sign of the Cross and say Amen.


I will post the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary tomorrow!
                                                               Bye for now, Sharla

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Weep With Those Who Weep and Mourn With Those Who Mourn

Hello out there - I haven't written a post in over a week and I have a lot to share with
all of you. Once again I am beginning my post with deep sadness in my heart. My
heart, my prayers, my tears go out to all of the people who lost loved ones, neighbors,
and friends in the shooting rampage at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas this past
Sunday.
It is hard for me to write about uplifting things when I know that people are hurting
and grieving. I feel helpless and sad. So I do what comes natural to me. I pray and I
bake and I thank God for my blessings.
Jim didn't have a job to do yesterday so we spent the whole day together. We got up
early and went to the Adoration Chapel to pray. Jim prayed and I cried. He handed me
his bandana and after I wiped away all of my tears and my nose I handed it back to
him and he told me to keep it. I finally stopped crying and began to read the scriptures
for the day in my devotional, the Magnificat. It was 6:00 a.m. when we left to drive
back home. There was a dense fog in the air as we drove home. We heated up left-overs
for breakfast and went over some book work for our family business. Jim poured
pinto beans into "the bean pot" and covered them with water while I wrote out some
invoices. We changed clothes and went for a two mile walk. It was really humid
outside. The fog had risen but it was still kind of hazy and the leaves from the plants
and trees had glistening drops of dew on them. I didn't feel like walking very fast and
told Jim to go on ahead.
I walked and prayed my rosary and Jim would turn back every now and then to
check on me. We came home and cleaned up. Jim drained the water from the beans
and added fresh water and turned the burner on low. I added some salt pork to
"the bean pot" (I always cook beans in this pan) and then we headed into town. We
stopped at a little restaurant for lunch, ran some errands and came back home.
Jim went outside to mow and I sat down to shell some pecans. I made a double
batch of cornbread to go with our red beans for dinner. Red beans and cornbread -
a simple meal and really good - comfort food.
Jim had a job to go and do today. I have a thick and hearty stew simmering on
the stove in my big cast iron skillet. I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies with
pecans (the ones I shelled yesterday) in them. It is really cool outside today and the
aroma from the stew smells so good. I am fixing to make a pitcher of tea and then
I think I will shell some more pecans.
I will write another post soon about all the things I wanted to share today - but my
heart just hurts right now.
I will close with the following scripture (it happens to be one of my favorites and
most of the time I think about the different gifts God has blessed us with, but today
I am feeling this) - towards the end of this scripture reading it says,
 "weep with those who weep" yes, I am weeping.
One of the scriptures from my Magnificat for today is -
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 12:5-16
Brothers and Sisters:
We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another.
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise
them:
if prophecy, in proportion to the faith;
if ministry, in ministering;
if one is a teacher, in teaching;
if one exhorts, in exhortation;
if one contributes, in generosity;
if one is over others, with diligence;
if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.
May God bless you and your families wherever you are.


                                                       Peace and Blessings, Sharla